Liver Function Tests Abnormality and Clinical Severity of Dengue Infection in Adult Patients
Chatporn Kittitrakul MD*, Udomsak Silachamroon MD*, Weerapong Phumratanaprapin MD*, Srivicha Krudsood MD*, Polrat Wilairatana MD*, Sombat Treeprasertsuk MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Internal Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : The clinical manifestations of dengue infection in the adult are different from those in children, i.e. having less
prevalence to bleeding, and more commonly, abnormal liver function tests.
Objective : The primary objective is to describe the clinical manifestations of dengue infection in adult patients. The secondary
objective is to compare the clinical manifestations of dengue infection between the groups of normal and abnormal liver
function tests in adult patients.
Material and Method: Retrospective study was done in adults (age >15 years) dengue patients admitted at the Hospital for
Tropical Diseases from 2000-2002. Dengue infection diagnosed by WHO clinical criteria 1997 with serological tests confirmed
by ELISA test or Rapid Immunochromatographic test. Liver function test was recorded by day of fever.
Results : There were 127 adult dengue patients with mean age 26.4+11.5 years. Classifications of dengue infection by WHO
criteria were DF 4.7%, DHF grade 1 26.0%, DHF grade 2 63.0% and DHF grade 3 6.3%. Mean duration of fever clearance
time was 6.0+1.9 days but the fever lasted longer in cases of high-level transaminases (>10 folds). The common presenting
symptoms and signs were myalgia (95.9%), nausea/vomiting (87.7%), positive tourniquet test (77.2%), abdominal pain
(42.7%), hepatomegaly (34.6%), and bleeding (20.5%). The ratio of AST and ALT was 1.8:1. Abnormal AST and ALT were
found in 88.2% and 69.3% of the patients, respectively. Patients with nausea/vomiting, petechiae or duration of fever >7 days
more frequently had abnormal transaminases. Abnormal AST during the febrile stage was associated with bleeding. High-
level AST and ALT occurred in 11.0% and 7.0%, respectively. Shock was associated with high-level ALT during the febrile
stage.
Conclusion : Adult dengue patients commonly showed abnormal liver function tests and accounted for at least two-thirds of
them. High-level ALT during the febrile stage showed association with shock.
Keywords : Adult, Clinical, Dengue, Liver function test, Thailand
